Instrument tray



s p 1959 w. J. ANDERSON lll 2,903,129

INSTRUMENT TRAY Filed March so, 1956 IN V EN TOR. By Wm WM 3M6:

llliam J. Anderson, 127.

United States Patent INSTRUMENT TRAY William J. Anderson III, Houston,Tex.

Application March 30, 1956, Serial No. 575,059

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-72) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in trays, particularly for surgical instruments, althoughit will be understood that the device may be used for any other purposefor which it may be found adapted and desirable.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a tray of theaforementioned character comprising novel means for holding orsupporting the various instruments .in a manner to greatly facilitatethe selection, removal :and orderly replacement of said instruments.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a surgical instrument trayof the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, compact, sanitary, of light weight,attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure .l is a perspective view of an instrument tray constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the device,taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation, show ing a pluralityof instruments mounted on the tray;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the adjustable stop ofthe modification.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated in Figures 1, 2and 3 of said drawing comprises a bottom 6 of suitable dimensions andmaterial. Rising from the bottom 6 at a point adjacent to but spacedfrom the rear end thereof is a back wall 7. Rising from the longitudinalmarginal edges of the bottom 6 and extending forwardly from the backwall 7 is a pair of side walls 8 comprising forwardly inclined upperedges 9. The members 6, 7 and 8 define a tray designated generally bythe reference character 10, said tray being open at its forward end.

The upper edge of the back wall 7 of the tray 10 is provided withnotches 11 for the reception of the inner end portions of the variousinstruments, as indicated at 12. Formed integrally with the upper edgeof the back wall 7 and rising therefrom at spaced points, is a pluralityof forwardly inclined stops 13. Immediately ad- 2 jacent the stops 13,the upper edge of the back wall 7 of the tray 10 further includesinclined shoulders 14 (see Figure 3) for causing the instruments 12 tolean toward the stops 13 in an obvious manner.

It is thought that the use of the invention will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the inner end portionsof the instruments 12 are placed on the notched upper edge of the backwall 7 of the tray 10, the forward ends of said instruments resting onthe bottom 6 of said tray. When thus supported the handles or inner endportions of the instruments 12 overhang the rearwardly projecting endportion of the bottom 6 in spaced relation thereto. The inclinedshoulders 14 cause the instruments which are immediately adjacent thestops 13 to slide away from said stops on the back wall 7 of the tray 10for permitting said instruments to be leaned by gravity against saidstops. Of course, the notches 11 prevent the instruments 12 from slidingon the upper edge of the wall 7.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing, the back wall 7 ofthe tray 10 has formed in the lower marginal portion thereof a slot 15.A stop 16 is mounted for sliding adjustment on the slotted wall 7. Theadjustable stop 16 includes a plate 17 mounted vertically on the wall 7and terminating at its lower end in a hook 18 which is slidably engagedin the slot 15. Rising from the upper end of the plate 17 is a finger19. A screw 20 is threadedly mounted in the upper portion of the plate17 with its headed end protruding therefrom. The screw 20 is selectivelyengageable in the notches 11 for securing the stop 16 in adjustedposition on the tray. The lower portion of the finger 19 comprisesoppositely inclined shoulders 21. In other respects this form of theinvention is substantially similar to the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and3 of the drawing.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An instrument tray of the character described comprising: a flat,horizontal bottom, an instrument supporting wall rising from saidbottom, said wall having notches in its upper edge for the reception ofthe instruments, stationary stops rising from the end portions of thewall, and an adjustable stop projecting above said notches slidablymounted on said wall for longitudinal movement therealong between saidstationary stops.

2. An instrument tray of the character described comprising: a bottom,an instrument supporting wall rising from said bottom, said wall havingnotches in its upper edge for the reception of the instruments,stationary stops rising from the end portions of the wall, and anadjustable stop projecting above said notches slidably mounted on saidwall for longitudinal movement therealong between said stationary stops,all of said stops including inclined lower shoulder portions for spacingthe instruments therefrom at the points of contact thereof with saidwall.

3. An instrument tray of the character described com- 3 prising: a"bottom, an instrument supporting wall rising from said bottom and havinga slot in its lower marginal portion, said Wall further having notchesin its upper edge for the reception of the instruments, stops for theinstruments rising from the end portions of the Wall, and an adjustablestop projecting above said notches mounted on said wall, said adjustablestop including a plate slidable on the Wall between said stationarystops, said plate comprising a hook on one end slidably engaged in theslot, a finger rising from said plate, and a screw threadedly mounted inthe plate and selectively engageable in the notches for securing theplate in adjusted position on said Wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSKimball Apr. Storm Oct. Booth Aug. Smith Sept. Frank Sept. Laureyns Nov.Duley Nov. Naken Nov.

